Electric railway



(No Model.) 2 Sheets`Sheet 2.

C. G. G.WOLPERS.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

Patentedrpr. 23, 1895.'

' iii IIIPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II.I II.I

' Nrrnn TAT-ns ATENT "Frrcn,

' CONRAD O. G, WOLPERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,005, dated April 23, 1895. Application filed/October 2, 1894. Serial No. 524,717. (No model.) I i .To a/ZZ whom/it may concer-n:

B e it known that I, CONRAD C. G. WoLPERs, a citizen of the United States, residing at lBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State oftion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsv to make and use the same. y

This invention relates to improvements, as hereinafter set forth, in electric'railways.y In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an end elevation, partly in section, of a car truck, track, road-bed, conduit, trol- .ley and connections according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation, broken away on the line a, a., of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged, broken, sectional View representin g the trolley, trolley arm and conducting wire. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation,'partly broken away, otV a portion of the trolley arm and its covering plate. Fig. 5 represents a transverse sectional View ofthe conduit and conductors adapted for use with a pair of trolleys the trolleys also being shown in this ligure. Fig. 6 represents a front elevation of a portion of said pair of trolleys. Fig. 7 represents an enlarged top plan View, partly broken away, of the trolley-supporting box and its hangers. Fig. 8 represents a top plan View of the trolley-connecting links connecting the trolley vby spring connection with the operating chains, and chain operating devices. Fig. 9 represents, in top plan view, a crossing for underground trolley lines con-- structed according to my invention running at right angles. Fig. 10 represents, in detail, the ratchet-locking device. Fig. 11 shows modified forms of the main conductor.

The objects of my invention are to produce an underground trolley system Jfor electric railways which shall be simple and colnparatively inexpensive in construction, manipulation,and 1naintenance,can be readily installed Aand operated, will occupy the minimum of space, wherebyV the conductivity and insulation yof thevparts are positively assured and maintained and whereby provision is made for the passage of the cars and operating mechanism connected therewith of cross roads over crossings without interference.

1 represents a car, which may be of any desired construction; 2, the wheels;v 3,'the wheelaxle; 4, grooved rails; 5, the surface of the road-bed; 6, ties, beams or blocks of any suitable material on which the bases, or webs, of the rails rest; 7, the block foundation for` the track; 8, spaces between the conduit, tracks and the surface of the road bed-which spacesA are ordinarily filled in with some suitable material which is readily removable when necessary to obtain access to the conduit for any purpose.

The conduit, 9, is composed of a sectional metal frame, the sections. having depending lips or flanges, lO, which are bolted together, as at 11. Viewed in cross-section, see Fig. 1, the smaller section, 12, is formed at its upper portion with an inwardly-extending shoulder, 13, and anA upwardly-extending portion, 11, constituting one-half of the slot within which the trolley arm travels, and at its top with a lateral ange, 15, which is embedded in the surface of the roadbed. The larger section, 16, of the conduit frame is formed with a chamberor channel, or recess, 17, within which is contained the main conductor or line wire, 18, and the insulator, 19, therefor, and with a neck, 20, constituting the other half of the slot, and a lateraltl'ange, 2l, which' is embedded in the surface of the road bed.

22 represents angle beams or bars by which said sections of the conduit frame are braced in. position as shown, and 23 represents brace and tie-bars which at their inner ends are bolted to the top anges 15 and 21, of the conduit frame, their outer ends extending throughand having nut and washer connection with the webs of the rails.

The conduit is, as will be readily understood, formed` of a number of longitudinal sections as well as of the vertical sections al- ICO By this construction perfect insulation is secured under the lateral oscillation of Vthe t'rolley. Said channeled insulator and the conduit are formed in sections and ot a iength and connected together suitably according to requirement, the number of such sectionsand their contour corresponding with the line of,

the road.

By forming the main `conducto`1,'or i'i'nen wire, of a flat strip of metal, the perfect contact atall times therewithot thetrdlley,leven under sidewise oscillation thereof, Yis "secured, and :by forming tfh'e 'insulating{clrannel ietereversed shafpe the per'fec't insulation of the main conductor and ot' the 'conduit aire finsm'ed.

ingly,oi"lpivotally, supported lon fa bolt,.27, passing through said box, 124, and removably secured thereto by fa rnurt, or nuts, 128, to 1faeilitate the removal of the trolley rwfhen =d=e sred. The trolley arm, 26, 'h as milled Ltherein a longitudinal groove, -2-9, *within which fis 4seated the insulated conducting fwitre, `30, transverse holes, 31., 32,1'hein-g gdrilled at =the upperau'd lower portions, respectively, toladmitlo'f the passage t'lieretfhrouglro'f ltheiu'p'per and `lower ends, 'respectively,'of stridwire, 30. Within tt'hese holes, "3l "and are removably inserted lplugs, 33, fcrmed dfizinyfsuitzrble in sulating material.

34l`represen ts a protectinglcover or plateffor inclosiug,r and covering the groove, 29, and wi`re,180,fsaid "plate, 34, being lite-lno-vablyfattaehed to the trolley-arm so fasitofadfniitref readyaccesstosaid groo verand wire, byscrews or theirequivalent, 35, passed throng-h :suitable. holes 'in said `plate and trelleyarln lrespectively.

36 represents "a transverseamnlor-stud removablyseeured -to "the lowerendlof thermal ley'arm, 26, `by screws ori'siinilar devices-57. 'lhisarm orstud, 36,'lasa'centraliand longi- `tudinal bore through which the-lo-werendfof the'eonducting \vi`ie,30,passesftolthelo'ontact bushing -or spool, `39, on 'which the trolley wheel, 38, has :revoluble bearing.

40 represents an :insulating spool `or 'bushinginounted on thespindle,4l,iofrthe armlor studj-SG; 42,alwasher of *insulatingnnaterial and 43 a clam p-nut engaged /withltlielthreaded outer endof said'spindle'tolclamprthewasher, 42, `spools-orfbushiugs 40, uand'39ja1n`d l-trfolley `wheel on the said spindle. Fllhelbushingsior spools 89 and `40,'each have anout'er threaded end,44, 44 with which `Fare lremovably =engaged `threadedrings or flanges, 45, "45 soas to permit of the ready placin-g'inor removal from position of the trolley wheel. It will be readily observed that by this arrangement, by removingithe clamp-nut, 43, the threaded rings, 45, onthe threaded outer ends, 44,01? the respective bushings or spools can be readily removed, and the trolley wheel slid olf when desired. Similarly, of course, the trolley Wheel can be readily placed in position and said rings, 45, Washer, 42, and nut, 43, readily placed `i'n position to hold the trolley wheel in place.

The upper end of the conducting wire, 30, extends'out through the hole, 3l, in the upper portion of the trolley arni, 26, and is coiled at that portion, as shown at 46, to prevent distortion or breakage under strain when shitting the trolley. Adjacent to each upper corlner of thearlin, 26, is bored a transverserslot neeted by bolts and nuts,47,'or pins, the inner endslof links, 48, "the outerfend-s of said links having 'fbolts for lpins, 49, passed `therethrough 24 (see Fig. 7),?representsla metal `'tirarme lor, box which issuspend'ed `from t'heplatform of r withwhich 'are connected the inner ends of spirarorother springs, 50, to whose outer ends arelattaclred rthe i-nnertends of either chains, lllfor wireczrblesfwhich at'their other, or on ter, ends are connected with the lower portions of vertical trolley-operating rods, 52, located at fthe respective `endsnof t'he `car and supported at Atheir lower ends on, or in, step brackets, y53, attached tothe platform.

-trepreseitsspools or drums on `either of whdh the respectivechains,.5l,ior cables, are 1woirndloythe rotation `of `either of the rods, 52, as it may be desi'redto shift or switch the trolley Lin `cit-lier direction according to the tdifrectiion `in which the car is to run.

55 represents levers or lhandles for operating `the rods, `52.

-56 represen-ts ratchetslkeyed or otherwise connected with t'herod-s, o2, and 57 re presents foot llevers and pawlsfadapted tto `be engaged witlhffand disengaged lrom fsaid ratchets in the Lcustomary manner. rllhe respective ratchets ylia-veterined `tln-rren -vertical `or transverse vslotsor :key-holes, 58, `with which are engaged chain-held tkeys for pins, 59,'the lower ends of Asaid fkeyslorpins, 59-engaging in holesformed in theiplatfo'rm, `so -.that Awhen it is desired to lockeitherfratchet and tits connections from movement, Wsuch as when it is desired to so Ilock saidzparts at the fend of the car where the motor-"man 4is not,the `insertion ot the key or pin, 59, at vsuch `unoccupied vend will accomplish such rlockingwhereby the trolley- `shifting rod V52, `andchain, 51,spring, 50, and link, 48,*for1the time =being outlof use, will be 'held docked.

In roaderossingswhere two lines intersect, the continuity of the respective intersecting 'main conductors orwires m ustnecessarily be hrokento 'admitlof rthecross passage of the trolleys ofthe respective lines. Such a cross =ingis representedfin Fig. 9 of the drawings. ln orderto `insu-re the Aproper electrical connection and` continuity of the current between suchrdisconnected main conductors, I attach thereto, adjacent to the respective ends IIO ` thereofas's'hown, the ends of connecting arrangement whereby both the negative and positive poles may be laid underground, and

l two trolley arms and trolleys, in lieu of one,

employed. In this arrangement, the conduity is formed with apair of chambers or recesses, 61, within each of which is contained one of the channeled insulators and also one of the -main conductors or wires, one in this case being positive and one negative. Two trolleys are employed in this case, which are of the same general construction as is the trolley heretofore described, except that/in this in-v stance they are so arranged that the trolley or contact wheels shall run right and left, as

clearly shown in the drawings. i

-As represented in Fig.'2 of vthe drawings, the trolley -shownin full lines, is positioned to cause the car to travel in the direction of the arrow, 64, (the dotted lines in this ligure indicating the switched position of the trolley to travel in the opposite direction.) In this arrangement, as will be4 clearly apparent, the rod, 52, at the forward end of the car, for'the time being, has been turned to coil suiicient of the chain, 5l, at thatend arounditsspool; 54, to draw the spring, 50, connected with said chain to tension, which act draws forwardly and downwardly the adjacent upper corner of the trolley arm, 26, and, consequently, raises the trolley wheel rearwardly into lcontact with the flat metal' main conductor, whereby perfect contact between the trolley and conductor is assured. IVhen it is desired to stop the car, all that is necessary is to slightly turn the, then, front rod, 52, to

`slightly unwind the chain, whereupon the tension on the spring, 50, isk released, or lessf cned, and the lower end of the trolley arm then, automatically, by gravity, drops down and temporarily releases the trolley wheel from contact with the main conductor, 18. When it is desired to again start the car, all that is necessary is to simply return the rod, 52, to draw on the spring, 50, and again raise the trolley wheel to contact' with the main conductor, 18. When the car has reached the end of its run, and it is desired to run it in the reverse direction, the rod, 52, which has been in use isturned to unwind the chain, 5l, connected therewith and entirely release the tension on the spring, 50, and theninsert the locking key or pin, 59, through the ratchet wheel, 56, and into engagement with the slot or hole in the car platform. Y Then the lockingpin, 59, at the other end of the car is released, the rod, 52, at that end turned to coil a portion of the adjacent chain on the drum,

` 54, and thereby draw the spring, 50, connected therewith to tension and thus, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, shift or switch the trolley to the other end of the car and into contact with thelmain conductor, 18, in the'conduit. By this construction and arrangement a perfect contact is attained at'all desired times between the trolley and the main conductor, the tension exerted by the spring, 50, on the trolley arm insuring the maintenanceof the contact wheel securely and firmly in contact with the conductor strip and overcoming any tendency said wheel may have in use to oscillate in either direction.

By constructing the extending upper end of the insulated conducting wire located in the trolley arm of spiral form all possibility of said conducting wire breaking under strain in shifting the trolley is obviated. This end of said wire is connected either with an ordinary register-box, pole-changer or switch (which may be of usual and known construction, and which it is, therefore, not thought necessary to show), under the car. The path or line of travel of the positive and negative currents willbe well understood. The positive current from the power house travels along the sectional main conductor, 1S, of flat metal, while the negative current travels through the trolley, conducting wire, 30, motor or register-box,axles, wheels and rails to the power house. v 4 Y y What I claim, and desireto secure lby Letters Patent, isf Y 1. In an underground system for electric railways, an underground conduit consisting of ametal frame comprising a chambered lower portion having at the upper corner of one side thereofa recess of reverse U-shape in cross-section and, laterally thereof, a vertical-neck having at its` upper end laterallyextending flanges, an insulator canal or channel of reverse U-shape in cross-section tted within said recess and having longitudinal side grooves adjacent tothe upper portion, a main conductor seated in said grooves and restingagainst the upper portion of said insulated canal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an underground system for electric railways, a conduit consisting of a sectional metallic framing having connecting bottom flanges, one section having at its upper corner IOC a reverse U -shaped recess and, laterally thereof, an inwardly-extending shoulder and a vertical wall and a horizontal top flange, the other section having at its upper portion an inwardly-extending shoulder and a vertical wall and a horizontal top ange, braces for bracing the upper and lower portions of said sections, a

lreverse U-shaped insulator canal or channel located in said recess and'having longitudinal side grooves and a main conductor seated in said grooves and having seating against the top` of said insulator, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an kunderground electric railway system, a box or frame 'suspended from the platform of and mediately of the wheels of a car, a trolley having pivotal bearing in said box or frame and consisting of a vertical arm having at `its upper Vportion and adjacent lo itsI edges transverselyfhored ears, a transverse insulated here -mediately of .said ears, an inner longitudinal '.giroove, a `lcransverse insulated bore connecting -with the iboLbt-om of said groove, :and a removable groove-@evening -plate,;a horizon tal longiqudfi-n all-ygrooved arm removablyeeeuredtosaid vortiealarmfspndle anda trol-ley `wheelmounted thereon, li-nlis 3 pivotally connected at one of their endswith said ears, springs kconnected with {nh-e other ends of said links, ohainsfeonrnected .with said springs, -vertieal fro ds :and eh aine-.reeling spools I by ythe lower portions ,of -said rods, paw-1s :and

vertically-bored ratelrots eonneeted with said l rods above the oar pplatformand ratchet-looking,r pins adapted to engage the bores iin said ratohets, and spring and chain connections,

betweenfsaid rods and xthe respective corners of the upper portion of the 4trolley a-rn1,:sub `stantiallvy as and for `the purpose ,set forh.

5. In oombinat-ionovlteh a rrolleyfoperati'ng -rods located atroppositeendsrof the ear frame,

yielding and chain connections connectingv Said rodsandft-,heugpper portion of the Holley armadjaoent -to its respecive fdges, -ratehetts attaehejd'tofsaid grodfsfand havingaseries of vertical pin rholes :ivniward-ly'of iheir peripheries,pa-\'vls adapted'to engage bhetfeethioffsaid f ratehets andchaign-guarded fipins ,adapted `:to engage rsaid `pin holes rand elfoekfsaid ratchets and .the ihereto -eomleciaerl `operarive rods, trolley :and oonneetizng Edevieeasubstantially as and for the purpose set ffortrh.

' 6. A trolley @dirsi-ating,ofaverbieal arm having a longitudinal .mire-reeeiving rroove and transverse bores @endearing with :the respect- -irve ends of Said groeve, finsnlaning plugs eenrainedwrirhrrfsaidffraneverse hores, @covering .plate removably ,att/ached to said arm, a lonfgiifnudfifnallvhored wirerweimizna arm removably :secured @to folle `lovvierelsid yof said 4vertical aum, a Malley, or reonigaet, `wheel journaled on said honizontal anni, :and an insulating spool or washer and coo nrtagai: :bushing interposed :between said wheel Iand horizontal arrasanstantialil-y as `and for y(che purpose set; forth.

"7.. A xtrolley eonsisingof avertieal arm having longitudinal ,e-,urrent-conduobing wirereoeiving groove :transverse end ybores connecting wfieh said fggroove, plugs of ,insulating material seaped within said end *,bores, a .erooveoverirrg plebe remorabl'rseaured v0 said arm, ahoriaontalanmremovably secured yto= t ,l 1e lower .poriQn IOf fSafid ivertieal arm and having sa longitudinalwiremeoeiving groove and aibransvferselarbowd A011;readef1 and Outtwardfly-@areudire vsind lor :spied-1e, an insulating plus @unearned wfrfrh'i'u fsa'id frransverse :boreffareecl commet bushings andiinsulating Aspools mounted on Sa-id epndle, a it-volley, 0l' contest., wheel having @retable :bearing 011 said ,Contact rbasheaerrd ;a.e1amp:uat for removably fsecufring Said bushing, spool, and irrolgley wheel .on said 4fspindile'enbstan tially as ,an d for ,the -p urpose y:seis 'forh ,-In ftestmongfwhereof Tlf ax myfsguature in `presence of ftwo witnesses.

GONRAD fC. 1G. WOLP'ERS Witnesses: l ALBERT LANDBEQK, JOHN KAISER. 

